Lady Green begin to define selves

Friday

Sep 20, 2013 at 1:51 PM

The Pratt High School Lady Greenbacks volleyball team entered a quadrangular at Hays on Thursday ranked #10 in 4A. They did nothing to diminish that ranking, and in fact may have enhanced it— downing Ulysses, Hays and Garden City in order.

Neil DePew

The Pratt High School Lady Greenbacks volleyball team entered a quadrangular at Hays on Thursday ranked #10 in 4A. They did nothing to diminish that ranking, and in fact may have enhanced it— downing Ulysses, Hays and Garden City in order.PHS head coach Shelby Nesbit told her squad before the games that the night would represent a “defining moment” in their season. By any ‘definition’, the Lady Greenbacks showed that they are a team who has arrived.Against 4A Ulysses, the Frogs started a bit sluggishly, and had a little bit of trouble adjusting to a slower-paced game. “We made a lot of mental errors that we had to overcome,” Nesbit mentioned. But overcome them they did, as the Greenbacks claimed a straight set 25-17; 25-18 victory over the Ulysses Tigers.Next up for Pratt was the host, 5A Hays High. Coach Nesbit was a little disappointed in the hitting against the Indians, the Greenbacks only connecting on 10% of their efforts. “We have to find a way to put the ball down,” Nesbit said. Still, Pratt was able to get by Hays 25-21; 25-18.In the evening’s final match-up against 6A Garden City, things began to click for the Frogs. “We were finally able to get going with Garden City,” Nesbit remarked. “Our game really picked up and became fluid. It was a fun match to watch.” Pratt prevailed 25-20; 25-18 over the Buffalos. Coach Nesbit had words of praise for several of her players. “Jenson Maydew continues to be a very strong force at the net,” Nesbit observed. “She sees holes, knows when to tip and when to swing away. When she is swinging away, she is extremely hard to stop. She had a couple hits tonight that went straight down.”“Bailey Gillig and Lauren Rambat are doing a fantastic job on the back row,” Nesbit continued. “I really try to emphasize to our blockers that they have to get a solid block up so our defense can set up the way we need to. Our block struggled at certain points tonight about closing. Hitters would hit right through us, but Bailey and Lauren were right there to pick them up.”“Jaci Kolm was fantastic at reading the opponent’s hitters and taking away their tip shot and continued to deliver to the hitters,” Nesbit concluded. The JVs also swept the quad, beating Ulysses 25-3, 25-19; Garden City 25-18, 25-22; and Hays 25-13; 25-19. Of the JVs, Coach Nesbit said, “We came out ready to play each time we hit the court. The team focused on improving serve receive, which in return helped our setter and hitters be more aggressive at the net.”PHS now sports a lofty 14-1 record. On Tuesday, the Lady Greenbacks travel to Hillsboro for a return match against the only team to have beaten them so far this season.